At the end of this chapter, we get a rather pleasant conclusion. It is as though the writer says, ‘And they all lived happily ever after.’ After so much grief, God finally brought His promised people the promised rest through His promised servant Joshua. God gives them rest from war by giving them victory over their enemies. He gives them rest from wandering by giving them Canaan to live in. And He gives them rest from the misery of a barren desert by giving them a land which is full of food and pleasure. These are what all humans desire; peace, security and happiness. But the story does not end there. No, this rest did not last long. Israel would face further wars, exile and sorrow. This is because the rest Joshua brought is only a temporary type (or shadow) intended to point to a greater rest to come. What we need more than peace with our neighbours, security in a house and happiness in the quality of our lives is peace with God, security in God and happiness in God. This greater rest is what God promises to give us in the gospel. Just as God brought His people rest through Joshua, so He brings greater rest to us through the greater Joshua. This rest is not temporary like Joshua’s. This rest is eternal because it was purchased by the eternally precious blood of the eternal Son. We enjoy a taste of this rest now (especially on a Sunday) but its consummation is yet to come. So we confidently wait for the rest to come because we have faith God is faithful. He will keep all His promises just as He kept all His promises to Israel: "Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass" (Joshua 21:43-45 ESV).
Posted on: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 03:12:40 +0000
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